From 1755 to 1777 the French, the British and then the Americans controlled Fort Ticonderoga. In 1820 William Ferris Pell, bought the Fort and the surrounding land to preserve them, and in 1826 he built his home overlooking Lake Champlain and the ruins of Fort Ticonderoga. By 1839 the home was named "The Pavilion" and began its life as a hotel catering to the growing tourist trade coming to see the ruins of Fort Ticonderoga.
In the1920s the Pells hired landscape architect, Marian Cruger Coffin, to design a garden behind The Pavilion. The garden was named the King’s Garden in honor of earlier garrison vegetable gardens located on the flat ground adjacent to the Lake. The walled garden reflected the Colonial Revival Style popular at the time.
Inside the Walled Garden
The Fort and the Gardens have been wonderfully restored, and the meticulously kept gardens are a joy to walk through. Most of this is accomplished by the efforts of over 2,000 volunteers. As you enter through the front gate of the walled garden you are immediately surprised by the tremendous display of color. There are plenty of volunteers to answer questions.
Outside the Walled Garden
A 1920s era Lord and Burnham greenhouse stands just outside the wall of the northwest corner of the King’s Garden. In this area is a large kitchen and vegetable garden. Both are well displayed, and filled with color. The kitchen garden has companion plantings of herbs, vegetables and flowers. Children will love this garden. Everything is designed to keep their interest.
They showcase many easy to make garden accessories. This garden shows how you can accomplish a beautiful and useful addition to your landscape at minimal expense. The majority of plant material observed from both gardens can be easily grown from seed.
The Three Sisters Garden
Next to the large kitchen garden is “The Three Sisters Garden.” The Native North Americans had a useful agricultural technique of interplanting corn, beans, and squash together. Tall corn stalks provide support for pole beans to climb. Beans supplied nitrogen to the soil, and the large squash leaves shade out weeds by their habit of creeping along the ground.
If you’re a history buff you could spend the whole day at the Fort seeing all the artifacts and experiencing the history of our country. There are many knowledgeable volunteers dressed in period costumes giving tours. Allow yourself plenty of time to explore the area. There is a restaurant and gift shop at the visitor’s center, and a large picnic grove. This is absolutely worth the trip if you’re traveling through the Adirondack Mountains.
Catherine Kaufell - For 18 years I was the owner/grower of a small speciality nursery, growing over 1,000 varieties of Perennials, Herbs and Old Garden Roses. ...
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